PRESENTATION OF SOCIOLOGY FUNCTIONALISM

PRESENTATION OF SOCIOLOGY FUNCTIONALISM

Contents Meaning Notable Persons Features Importance Criticism A related Video

Functionalism

Meaning of Function Function refers to the act of working mechanism of different parts (social institutions) to accomplish its own functional needs but unknowingly performs different function in a unison. Functionalist assume every social institution as single functional unit. Family, Economy, Religion and Polity performs its own function,

Meaning of Functionalism According to a functionalist perspective, differences in power, wealth, and other rewards within the social structure are justified, because they motivate the most qualified people to exercise their talents in the most important jobs. All functional unit performs its own specific function, The functionalist perspective attempts to explain social institutions as collective means to meet individual and social needs,

Meaning of Functionalism Why functionalism is also called Structural Functionalism? It often focuses on how the social structure perform their basic function to meet the social need. How family, polity, economy, religion, and education works,

Meaning of Functionalism Family: Small unit, helps in production, consumption and exchange, Economy: Regulates production, consumption, and exchange activities Religion: Religion is also a phenomena that creates stratification in people through its own unique practices and concept of purity. Polity: Polity is the game of acquiring and exercising power. It govern the state mechanism.

Meaning of Functionalism Polity Law making, Governance Education Enlightenment Makes people Higher or lower Social Institution Economy Production, Consumption, Exchange Religion Religion binds, Unique practices, Purity

Notable Persons Emile Durkheim Influential Figure in functionalism, the unity that derives from the fact that the relationships between its parts are exactly regulated, that unity resulting from the harmonious articulation of its various functions assured by effective discipline Concept of social facts: According to Durkheim, social facts are the values, cultural norms, and social structures which transcend the individual and are capable of exercising a social constraint.

Notable Persons Emile Durkheim Integrity and coherence in the society. Lays down the concept of Mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity Religion: Religion is the unified system of belief and practices; religion binds people; Sacred and Profane Suicide: Suicide is also a social act. It is the phenomena of social activity. Catholic ethics and Protestant ethics.

Notable Persons Talcott Parson Influential Figure in functionalism, Influenced by Durkheim and Max Weber, He stresses on the unity and unison of the social institution, According to Parson s, all parts of social system are interrelated, however, different part of society have different function.

Notable Persons Talcott Parson 1. Adaption to the environment 2. Goal Attainment 3. Integrating members to the harmonious unit 4. Latency or maintaining basic cultural pattern Called as AGIL scheme

Notable Persons Herbert Spenser Stresses on Darwin's theory and how societies change and evolve over time. Spencer did not feel the need to correct or improve society, for he felt that societies were bound to change automatically. No need of revolution as evolution takes in the society automatically,

Characteristics of Functionalism 1. Society consists of a number of interdependent parts Every part of society performs its own function, Every aspect of society is interdependent to eachother, Family influences economy vice-versa, No any agent of society is independent, The defragmentation in one of the social institution causes whole society to suffer, Discard of religious philosophy, defragmentation of family,

Characteristics of Functionalism 2. Functional Unity Every element performs some common function, Family performs its own function, however, all family performs three basic functions socialization, harmonious integration, and consumption, Functional unity in religion, economy, and polity, All Hindus follows same norms, people guided by protestant ethics are motivated to work, Economy in every part of the world focuses on production, consumption and

Characteristics of Functionalism 2. Functional Unity Polity Law making, Governance Education Enlightenment Makes people Higher or lower Social Institution Economy Production, Consumption, Exchange Religion Religion binds, Unique practices, Purity

Characteristics of Functionalism 3. Manifest, Dysfunction, and Latent Function Robert K. Merton has described about manifest, and latent function, Latent function refers to the element of a behavior that is not explicitly stated, recognized, or intended, and is thereby hidden, Manifest function refers to the element of behavior that is stated, recognized or intended by the society and is thereby the primary function of society, Dysfunction is the opposite of manifest function,

Characteristics of Functionalism 4. Stability and Equilibrium Society is itself a complete system, There is stability in society, There is state of equilibrium in the society, Rich and Poor are the phenomenon of society and these phenomenon makes society in balance, Social Dynamic and Social Static; Social static is based on stability and equilibrium

Characteristics of Functionalism 5. Social Facts Social facts are the values, cultural norms, and social structures which transcend the individual and are capable of exercising a social constraint. Values, and norms controls the individuals,

Characteristics of Functionalism 5. Society tends towards consensus Consensus is necessary but conflict destroys consensus. Nearly every one in the society is guided by some basic rules, According to Durkheim, People are likely to cooperate when they feel that they share things in common with one another.

Characteristics of Functionalism 6. Perfect Equality is impossible Perfect equality is impossible, Inequality in the society makes a society to run, Unbalance in the society creates social stratification which in turns forms societal balance, If all are affluent, no one would will to be laborer,

Thinks all changes as evolutionary and automatically intuitive Renaissance Scientific Inventions British Revolution American Revolution French Revolution Industrial Revolution and Female empowerment Technological Advancement World Wars Changing Law, Religious Views

Importance of Functionalism 1. Basic Foundation of Sociology, 1. Lays down the basic concept of society, 2. The way the society functions, 3. The interconnectedness between the elements of society 2. Functioning mechanism of society, 1. No any element is independent, 2. Human is social animal, and social facts make them more social-able, 3. Makes unity in society, 1. Views society as a system of unity that works in complete harmony, 2. Religion is the greatest source of unitedness, 4. Interconnects the roles of various elements of society, 5. Power, and wealth are the motivating factor, 6. Qualification determines the distribution of power, wealth and prestige

Criticism of Functionalism 1. No any society is stable 2. No condition of equilibrium and satisfaction, 3. Treats society as alive like human 4. Revolution as a complete dysfunction 5. Power, wealth, and other rewards motivate qualified people might not be always true, the 6. Religion binds and contributes in unity of people might be a lop-sided view, 7. Conflict and competition as the inalienable elements of society,

KEY POINTS In the functionalist perspective, societies are thought to function like organisms, with various social institutions working together like organs to maintain and reproduce societies. According to functionalist theories, institutions come about and persist because they play a function in society, promoting stability and integration. Functionalism takes society as self-regulating, self guided, and stable unit with the persistence of equilibrium, Functionalism has been criticized for its failure to account for social change,

KEY POINTS Functionalism has been criticized for attributing human-like needs to society. Emile Durkheim s work is considered the foundation of functionalist theory in sociology. Merton observed that institutions could have both manifest and latent function.